Optimum geography during a SHTF scenario?

Seems like every country guy that I talk to has an interest in being prepared for mainstream SHTF scenarios. The problem with their schemes?: * The edible wildlife would largely be gone within a short time.* That empty cabin may belong to someone who plans to use it during a SHTF scenario.* The power grid is one of the most vulnerable parts of our infrastructure. Certainly the most important. For example, water will not flow to most homes and sewage will not be pumped without pumping stations. * Precious metals are very popular items related to prepper talk. Yet PMs could also lose their utility during a really harsh SHTF. The best that one can do with currency is to buy goods and services. Which makes goods and services the true king of survival prepping.* That full freezer becomes a liability if the grid goes down. Meat quickly becomes toxic sans refrigeration or proper drying/salt.* Many SHTF scenarios involve an inability of sunlight to effectively pierce the dense clouds of dust that are too high to be bought down by rainfall. These clouds will last for years and, of course, crops and wildlife will cease to exist.

Switzerland is often thought to be relatively safe. Good luck there unless you are both wealthy and speak the language. Iceland is safe from many threats but offers its own challenges such as the very real threat of severe volcanic activity. Iceland is also very expensive, cold, and not conducive to solar energy production.Chile is deep in the southern hemisphere thus offering some protection from nuclear threats. However Chile is literally the king of earthquakes due to sitting on an unstable region of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Also highly susceptible to the threat of large tsunamis. New Zealand is thought to be a favored location among the plutocrats. Reasons are similar to Chile in many ways. However it is very expensive to travel there let alone move there. If you are rich, this may be your best option. Mainland USA? Forget about that. There are approx. 10 nuclear bombs with every significant towns name on it. This is also true for every military base. Every large refinery. Every large manufacturing facility. Every missile silo region. Anything in the greater region of India and Pakistan? The possibility of a nuclear exchange in that region are significant.Anything around Israel and Iran? Israel has always been very secretive about their active nuclear program. One general(?) spoke up and was sentenced to 30 years of jail with many in torturous solitary confinement. Anything around France and England? Both are active nuclear technology participants. Africa? Offers more immediate problems that almost anyone else. Economic instability. Political corruption. Violence that is murder inclusive. Your head may be removed via machete for example.Australia? Much like the USA and very expensive in the larger cities. Japan? Mind boggling debt, expensive, and perched on the Ring of Fire. Caribbean? Large hurricanes pose an annual threat of returning these islands to the technological stone age.Less developed countries (LDCs)? A common reason for a lack of economic health is crime and political corruption. It is difficult to conduct business without being able to exercise trust. Your house and land may be nationalized at the whim of a tin pot dictator. Crime may necessitate large walls with electric wires adorning them. If you don't know what authority to give bribe money to? Well...good luck there. Hawaii? Very expensive and certain to have many nuclear missiles with Hawaii's name written on it.Alaska? May be more survivable than most. Can you hack normal life in a challenging environment? Perhaps.... humans can, and do, live in much harsher conditions. Do you want to live with Alaskan sized challenges?

Roughly, we have ~300,000,000+ people in the US. When I looked a while ago, there were about 7,000,000 people in the US land area (native Americans) when it was a subsistence culture.

Working with the governmental and private sector to "harden" our infrastructure against normal hazards (and somebody lobbing an EMP device) is the best way to go.

Unless you and your family plan on a Little House on the Prairie existence (the average lifespan in 1750-1800 in US was 36 years old)--Helping to keep civilization ticking is (overall) our best bet for long term survival. Venezuela is a good recent example of what happens when the government actively works against the best interests of the population (every-time the population finds a "work around" for a government caused problem, the government appears to make "the work-around" illegal).

Doing some preparation for a few days to a few months of survival until things recover--A good idea. My basic plan has always been looking at camping equipment, water filtration, and dried/canned foods as my first response. My rough rules of thumbs for how far you can go without:

air--3 minutes

shelter/appropriate clothing--3 hours (rain, snow, sun, etc.)

water--3 days

food--3 weeks

medicines (as needed--Many prescriptions are only for 30-90 days of supply)

I'm thinking some pacific island, where the locals led a pretty carefree life till missionarys came.

Just make sure it has a mountain with a Bar up top made out of cinder blocks, above the anchorage. Yea, the Tsunami thing is always a problem on an island along with the volcano issue. Good to have a boat and a small airport.

Probably need to keep an eye on the locals, they ate Captain Cook, the world's greatest navigator, in Hawaii no less.

I think I am going to stay here with a dingy dock up 3,000 feet FRIDAY!

Half of Puerto Rico’s housing was built illegally. Then came Hurricane Maria.

-Bill

Shades of Hurricane Katrina and the mathematical probability that New Orleans would be hit someday and the earthen dams would prove inadequate for a city that is significantly under sea level.

Should we "be prepared"? Well....certainly more than most of us are. When NYC experienced a power outage due to a solar flare effecting the Canadian power station - people were passing $5 bills through the steel bars of NYC businesses so they could get a bottle of water. How long did it take for that to happen? Less than a day.

Dad always said that I do everything at 100mph. Unfortunately I chose prepping...... at 100mph.